Chris Cairns, the former New Zealand and Nottinghamshire all-rounder, has released a statement reiterating his previous denials of any involvement in match-fixing, following a report that "the net is closing" around a big name in the game.

Cairns has not been publicly identified as that name, who is alleged to have made approaches to the former New Zealand batsman Lou Vincent and the current captain Brendon McCullum several years ago. But the 43-year-old, who has remained a high-profile figure in New Zealand since his international retirement in 2006 and was working as a commentator last December when he was named as being under investigation by the International Cricket Council with Vincent and Daryl Tuffey, was sufficiently aware of speculation that he is the man in the sights of the ICC's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit that he issued a lengthy statement to the Fairfax Media Group.

"I am being asked whether I am Player X," he said, in response to the references to Player X in the evidence presented by Vincent and McCullum to the ACSU investigation, which has been seen by the Daily Mail.

"Based on the limited information I have received during this investigation, I believe it is being alleged that I am that player. These allegations against me are a complete lie."

Cairns confirmed for the first time that he had been interviewed as part of a separate Metropolitan police interview in New Zealand last December. He won a libel trial against Lalit Modi, the former commissioner of the Indian Premier League, at the High Court in London in 2012 over claims of corruption in the Indian Cricket League, which is now defunct. Cairns played for the Chandigarh Lions in that competition in 2008.

Andrew Fitch-Holland, a lawyer who appeared as a witness for Cairns in that trial, who he describes as a friend, was arrested in March by the Met on suspicion of perverting the course of justice in relation to that case.

Cairns insisted then that he had "nothing to hide", and he repeated that sentiment in his latest statement. "I ask that people reserve judgment until all the facts are brought to light," he said. "I have nothing to hide. I have been to court to demonstrate conclusively that I am not a match fixer before. I will have no hesitation in doing so again.

"I conclude by saying that I believe there are dark forces at play. These forces have long arms, deep pockets and great influence. I acknowledge that recently I have upset some powerful people in the world of cricket, including raising my own concerns about the health of the game. I believe I am paying the price for that now."

He said that Vincent, who was a team-mate in Chandigarh and went on to play county cricket with Lancashire and Sussex, "is in a desperate position. He faces potential prosecution and in trying to negotiate a plea bargain, he appears to be willing to falsely accuse me of wrongdoing".

Of McCullum, who described Player X as "my hero", Cairns added: "I have no understanding why he would say the things he is alleged to have said. To be clear, I have never approached Brendon, or anyone else, about match-fixing or any other improper activity. I am doing everything I can to get to the bottom of these allegations."

The Mail story also included one further, potentially significant, allegation, that McCullum had been told by Player X how money made through fixing could be hidden through a property deal with "a man in Dubai", who is understood to be associated with the sport.

McCullum could also be in trouble for failing to report Player X's initial approach, as required under the anti-corruption code.